Doctor Strange review
Synopsis:
Dr. Stephen Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Before long, Strange is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.
(Spoiler review)
"Doctor Strange" is the 14th Marvel film and I can say that Marvel, once again, gives us a great and entertaining film about a superhero that we do not really know much about. This film follows the story of Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a brilliant neurosurgeon, who after a tragic car accident robs him of his hands, he must learn the Mystic arts from the ancient one (Tilda Swinton). She teaches him to defend the world from Mystic Dark Forces. Doctor Strange is one of Marvels most aspiring films so far. Benedict Cumberbatch was the perfect and only choice to play Dr. Stephen Strange. His character is arrogant and unlikeable in the beginning of the movie until he meets the ancient one (Tilda Swinton) who trains him to be the sorcerer supreme and then he is transformed. The best aspects of this film are the visuals and the special effects. They are stunning and intriguing with graphics, illusions and images that fill the audiences' imagination and keeps them entranced from beginning to end. Some of my favorite visuals occurred were: the fight scene that went back in time was thrilling to watch; and the other scene I loved was when Doctor Strange was fighting Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) while buildings in New York were moving upside down was incredible to look at. Every film has its problems— Marvel has a history of creating bad villains and it continues in this film. Mads Mikkelsen did an outstanding job playing him, but there just isn't enough back story or information that allows the audience to connect with the character. He is just one of those villains who want to destroy the universe using a forbidden spell to spread darkness over the world, inviting a hero to stop him. Usually in Marvel movies, the humor is funny and it works, but in this film some of the humor clicked but other jokes fell flat, and it wasn’t funny at all. With all its flaws, Marvel still produced an entertaining film with an original, go-getting story that caught my attention and engaged the audience throughout. This hasn't happened since the first "Iron Man" movie in 2008. I am giving "Doctor Strange" a 3 out of 5 stars.
Director: Scott Derickson
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Scott Adkins, with Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton
Runtime: 115 minutes